The Final Vision of the Holy Grail

Those present clearly saw that the bread had taken the form of a fleshly creature. Joseph, after holding it high for a long time, placed it back in the Holy Vessel.[...] Then they saw emerge from the Holy Vessel a completely naked man, with bleeding hands, feet and body, who said to them: "My knights, my soldiers and my faithful sons, you who in this life have become spiritual beings, you who have sought me so much that I can no longer hide from your eyes, it is right that you see a part of my secrets and my mysteries, since you have done so much to deserve to sit at my table, where no knight has ever sat since the time of Joseph of Arimathea. To the knights of this castle and to many others has fallen, as befits servants, the rest: that is, all of them have been nourished by the grace of the Holy Vessel, but they have never been able to stand as close to it as you stand now. Receive therefore the sublime food that you have so desired and for which you have endured many sufferings." Final vision of the Grail Galahad came forward and looked into the Holy Vessel. As soon as his mortal flesh began to contemplate spiritual things, he was shaken by a violent tremor. Then he stretched his hands to heaven and said: "Lord, I worship and thank You for having fulfilled my desire, for now I see distinctly what tongue cannot describe nor heart imagine. Here I see the origin of great deeds and the reason for prowess; here I see the wonders of all wonders! And since, dear sweet Lord, you have granted me to look upon what I have always desired to see, I pray you to let me pass in this instant, in the state of beatitude in which I find myself, from earthly life to heavenly life." As soon as Galahad had made his request to Our Lord, the man who stood by the altar dressed like a bishop, took the Corpus Domini from above the table and offered it to him. Galahad received it with profound humility and devotion. After he had received communion, the man asked him: "Do you know who I am?" "No, sir, unless you tell me." "Know that I am Joseph, son of Joseph of Arimathea, sent here by Our Lord to keep you company. And do you know why he sent me specifically? Because you resemble me in two things: you have seen, as I once did, the wonders of the Holy Grail and, like me, you have remained virgin; it is therefore right that I should keep you company." After hearing these words, Galahad approached and kissed first Perceval and then Bors, to whom he said: "Bors, greet Sir Lancelot my father as soon as you see him." Then he returned before the table prostrating himself with arms and knees on the ground, but shortly after he collapsed prone on the floor, as his soul had already left his body. The angels took it in jubilation blessing Our Lord. Withdrawal of the Grail As soon as Galahad expired a great miracle occurred: Perceval and Bors saw distinctly descending from heaven a hand, without however being able to glimpse the body to which it belonged; the hand went straight toward the Holy Vessel, took it and carried it, together with the Lance, up to heaven and no one since then has dared to say they have seen the Holy Grail. Do you know why it departs? Because the inhabitants of this land have not served nor honored it appropriately; they have preferred to lower themselves to worldly things, despite always being nourished by the grace of this Holy Vessel. Death of Arthur and end of Chivalry CONCLUSIONS